Machine for cutting, forming and inserting leads of electrical components



Feb. 2, 1965 L. E. MUELLER MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FORMING AND INSERTING LEADS OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS Filed Dec. 5, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 42 Hgl 24 a zoo 26 //e 30 204 68 F /.4 j H- b Q 98 99 T INVENTOR. LAWRENCE E. MUELLER.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 2, 1965 .E. MUELLER 3,167,780

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FORMING AND INSERTING LEADS OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1962 Fig. 2.

/.58 I50 I /50 4O INVENTOR.

l2. LAWRENCE E. MUELLER.

A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 2, 1965 Filed Dec. 5, 1962 Y L. E. MUELLER MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FORMING AND INSERTING LEADS OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS q a .88 125 5/125 .L

IIHIIIIIIJIIII] 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE E MUELLER.

ATTORNEY- Feb. 2, 1965 L. E. MUELLER 3,167,730

MACHINE FOR CUTTI RMING AND INSERTING LEADS OF EL 1 AL. COMPONENTS Filed Dec. 5, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. .9. T

INVENTOR. LAWRENCE E. MUELLER. BY

ATTORNEX Feb. 2, 1965 L. E. MUELLER 3,167,780

. MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FORMING AND INSERTING LEADS OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS Filed Dec. 5, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.12.

INVENTOR. -LAWRENOE E. MUELLER.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 2, 1965 1.. E. MUELLER 3,167,780

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FORMING AND INSERTING LEADS OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS Filed Dec. 5, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE E. MUELLER. BY

:xza e M AT TORNE Y.

Feb. 2, 1965 L. E. MUELLER 3,167,780 MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FORMING AND INSERTING LEADS OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS Filed Dec. 5, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 25 Fig.18.

Fig.19. H

1 36 /44\ u |L)L z iagwwllllll 40 L38 :i LWZ INVENTOR.

LAWRENGEE. MUELLER.

BY I

Feb. 2, 1965 L. E. MUELLER MACHINE; FOR CUTTING, FORMING AND INSERTING LEADS OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE EMUELLER. BY

ATTORNEY v component leads.

MACHINE soncurrmc,

msnnrrnc mans. on connonnnrs FonMiNc AND ELEQTRH'CAL Lawrence E. Mueller, Livonia, Mich, assig'nor'to-Birrrouglis CorporatiomvDeh'oit, Mich a'corpo'ra'tionof Michigan Filed'Dec. 5, 1962,8 i zafz zaosw 6 Claims. (43.1 622) I This invention relates generally to machines for severing', forming and inserting leads of components and particularly' to applicators for applying electronic components to circuit supporting boards.

. In the manufacture of electrical units of the type having electronic components mounted on circuit boards, it

has been the practice to apply the components to the.

board by means of a mechanical applicator. Usually. the components are fed singly by an indexing mechanisrnonto coplanar shear blocks and a former block where oppo sitely directed conductors .of the "components are. sheared to the desired lengths, then bent into relative parallel referent size of component ofwhich there are a great many sizes in use today.v In" addition, insofar as I am aware there are no devices of the above mentioned type capa- Me of severing bending and erting tipped leads into a circuit boards. 1 V I Accordingly, it is the principalobject of the invention I to provide an improved electronic component applicator that is adaptable to handle a run of components of one size andbe readily adaptable to handle a run of components of another size. I a II gAnother object of the invention is to provide an elec-' tronic component applicator of a structural character such that it can be used to applya run of'electronic components of any sizeWithinpredetermined limits. j

I Specifically, it is anobject of the invention to provide an applicator of the above mentioned character which is readily adjustable .and certain parts readily interchangeable to handle any size component Within a predetermined range of sizes I In connection with thenext precedingobject, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved applicator for bending and inserting leads in which the bending tools are displaceable by inserting tools to allow the latter to travel in the same path as the" former. I

A further object of the invention is to provide animproved machine for severing,

Other/objects of the invention will become apparent I from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;

ending and inserting tipped.

Un d SW en I of the arrows 8%8 of FlG l;

ice

showing certain operating parts in ditferent posi-tionsof operation;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional View, taken along. the

line 6-6 of FIG. 4; I

7 FIG; 7 isa venticalsectional view, taken .along the line 77-of -FIG. UFIG. 8 isan elevational. view, taken'in the direction FIG. 9 is a horizontal. sectional vi'ew, takenfal-ong the line 9,-'9 of FIG. 8; I i I FIG 10is a verticallsectional View, taken along the line 1ti*-1tl'of FIG.9; i I FIG. llis a'fragmentary, side viewof one'of the openating parts ofthe'applicator; I

FIG. 12 is a"vertica1 sectional view, taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 2; I I FIG, 13 is a side view'. of an indexing mechanism for. feeding electronic components to. the. applicator;

FIGS. 14, 15 and16are vertical sectional views simi-' lar to FIG, 12, showing the "operating pa'r't's'inj various positions; I p

FIG. 17 is afcnoss sectional'view, taken alongtheline l7--17ofFIG. 12; I i' I FIG. 18 is a cross sectionalview, taken along the line 18 18 of FIG. 12; I I

FIG. 19 isa cross sectional view, taken along the line tears of FIG. 18; a I

vFIG. 20'is afragmentary vertical sectional view, taken. along theline filth-20 of- 'FIG. 18, and I FIG. 21" is an exploded perspectiveview of the operating and other parts ofv the" applicator. I I

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference and first to FIG. 1, the apparat'usshown includes aI'sta'ndard 21), an electronic component applicator 22,feed "de-' vices 24 to feedelectronic'components. singly. to the. applicator and'a'power element, or air cylinder 2'6'to..a. tuate theapplicator. The standard ztl has a bed or anvil 281m support a circuit board 313, and the. applicator" 22 and the feed devices 24 are mounted on the standard, the applicator being directly above the anvil' and the feed devices being mounted directly on the applicator.

The electronic components, asat 34; areindividually contained withincasings which are usually cylindrical and each has apair'of; externally projecting leads or conductors 36 whichprojectpone from each end of the casing or in opposite directions. These components-Mare attached to and' span a pair'of disposable, spaced; apart preferably mounted 'on a bracket 42ab0ve the applicator FIGQl is a side view partly broken away and in 'section of a machine including an electronic component ap- FIGS. 4 and 5 are similar fragmentary sectional views,

parallel belts 38 for conveniently feeding them to theap plicat or' 2-2, the components being attached by-their conductor-s saw the belts as shown in FIG. 8. The belted components -34 are wound on a supply reel 40 whichris 22. A guideway, designated generally by the numeral 44, guides the belted components 3'4 downwardlyto the component'feed device 24 which feeds the components to the applicator 22 in a manner hereinafter described. Attached to each of the component conductors 36, equidistant "from adjacent ends of the component'casings, are wedge shaped tiplets 46 to be inserted and wedged into holes 43 provided in the circuit board 30 so as to hold the components in place for a subsequent soldering op erat'ion. The tiplets 46 m applied'to the component conductors-'36, by a separate operation performed prior to the belting of the components. I i

The applicator, 22 has a sectionally constructed supporting or'monnting means for mounting the applicator on a horizontal arm 49 of the standard 20, the mounting meanscornprising an upper sleeve 5tl annd a lower supporting member 52. The sleeve 50 is received and tightly clamped in a split clamp 54 provided on the end of thestandard arm 49, and the supporting member 52 depends new Patented Feb; 2, 19615 a v from the sleeve and. is secured thereto by bolts 56, the

, supporting member preferably being a channel structure having vertical. sides 58 and a connecting Web 60, as is shownmore clear1yin1- IG. l7.' J Fitting snugly "within the-channel mounting member 52 there is a vertically q elongated open ended body .62

which maybe rigidly secured "to the mountingmember by screws 63. As shown in .17, the body. '62'is of rectangular cross section and may comprise-opposite side plates .64, ,a rear plate 65 anda removableiront plate 66, suitable :secured together, such as bymeans of screws. 7 Mounted on the 'outer side oflthe front plate 66, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a cast br'acketlitl'having a pad or. plate 72 whichis rigidly. secured fiat. against.

the body front'plate 66 "by screw 74', FIG.:l2. In a plane, at an acute angle to the pad 72'ar'e the facesof I bosses 76 of the bracket 70 towhich is secured a plate 78 which, in part, formstheguideway 44, the plate being secured by screws 79 to the bosses. A second and readily removable plate 80 is'positioned flat over the fixed plate 78,. the opposed faces of the plate being:recessed to .define the ,belt' guideway land the component guideway,

' shown -FIG'Q9. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 a pair of clamps 82, pivoted to the fixed guide plate 78, are

provided to clamp the guide plate 80 to=theguide plate:

78,- the plate 80 being retained against downward movement bydowel pins 84 which also serve to locate-the plate for assembly.

I Slidably guided vertically. in the body 62, the applicator has a vertically reciprocal actuator and carrier 86' in the form of a driver bar of rectangular cross section.v The driver bar 86 extends upwardly intothe sleeve 50 wherein it is connected by' a universal ball joint 88 -to the lower end of a connecting rod .90. The uppergend,

of the connecting rod 90 is pivotally connected to. one arm of'a lever 92 which, asshown in FIG. 1, is pivf oted on thestandard 20,:as vat.93. Another arm of the a. are' provided to .cut the component the body 62f The slidemembers 120 arerespectively positionedflatagainst the opposed faces of the plates 110 for sliding-contact therewith and are operatively connected .to thedriver bar.86 by a clutch comprising lever 92 is pivotally connected; by a clevis 94 to. a conr nectingrod 96 which in turnis connectedtodh'e piston of the power element or .air cylinder 26. -In the-present instance, the air cylinder 26 is pivoted' atits lower end, on a shaft98 thatis fixedat its opposite' ends inand to the sidesofthe standard 20. An air port, 99 in the end of the air cylinder 26 serves as the air inlet andoutlet and is. connected by a tubel'or pipe 10010 .a fitting 102 of a solenoid valve 104 for connection to a source ofcompressed air and to an outletor-bleed 106 to at-.

mos phere. A Switch .108 controls energization .of .the. J

solenoid 'valve104-and may be a manually operable switch, or a time operated switch, as desired; In either 1 case, -it will be apparent that when the switch 108 is a vertically slidable block 122and a clutch'member or ball 124.; The clutch ball 1'24is retainedin an aper-1 turein the clutch block 122 and is, movable laterallyto' connect and/or.disconnect the; slide members 120i'and the driver bar. 86. By reference to FIG. 12, it will be seen that the diameter of the clutch ball 124 is greater than thethickness ofthe ,wall of clutch block 122. and

that the driver bar 86has a recess or socket 128'to re-.

ceive the ball'so as to connect "the clutch block 122 releasably to the driverbar-86a Normally the clutch ball 124 is engaged in the socket 128, as shown in FIG. 12,

the term normally referring to the .home or up positions of the, operatingparts of the applicator. 'Below, the clutch block 122,the body rear plate 65- is provided with an upwardly facing intern'al' shoulder 130 which functions as a stop for the clutch'block and .thus limits the downward movement of' the.,.s lide. members 120. After the. clutch block engages its stop 130,'continued downward movement of the driver-bar86' forces the ball 124 into a clearance recess 132 provided'in the inner face of thebody rear plate 65.. I

The slide members 12!} are connected to the clutch 3(; block 122 in a manner such that they may be movably adjusted toward and awayfrom each other. while remain ing operatively connected to the .clutch block 122. To accomplish this, theTupper ends of the slide members 120 are provided with-laterally inwardly directed C011.- nectors or tabs. 125 which engage inv a horizontal slot 126 in the clutch block 122.. ,At their lower ends the slide members; 120 ;are providedv with 'suitable'ficutters .133, preferably having V-notched cutting edges,as shown. Mounted on the body'62lat the lower end thereof is the shear blo'cksupporting member 118 having a vertical leg 134-and apair of laterally positioned horizontal legs 136.: The vertical leg' 134 lies flatagainst the body rear plate 65,.and may be rigidly secured thereto by screws,

or by otherjsuitable means. .Th eihorizontal. legs 136;

extend forwardly' beneath' the lower ends of vtheqbody 62 and below and just outwardly ofthe cutters 133,.the legs having transversely keyed ends to. receive transversely aligned shear. blocks.13 8.: End-clamping blocks 140, also keyed to the :shear blocks'f 138, aretighteneddown' by.

screws142 which pass through elongated apertures 144 in the shear blocks to .allow for adjustment of the blocks to positions to; shear'conductors of different sizes of comclosed, the solenoid104 will be activated. andthe piston of air-cylinder 26.wi1l be forced upwardly tomove thedriver bar, 86 downwardly.

" Positioned within the .body 62.and forming a vertical guidewaytherein there is a pair of rectangular plates 110 which are in broadside relationship respectively to the inner faces of the body side plates 64. The plates 110 are respectively supported on the body side plates 64"by vertically spaced horizontal pins 112 which are secured in and to the body plates'64 and extend'through aligning, apertures '114. in theplates 110 to allowfor broadside movement of the latter toward and away from the; body side plates 64. At the. lower ends thereof, the

plates 64' and 110 have their opposed surfaces recessed to receive apair of pinions 116 which arejournalled on the plates and constitute part of the feeddevice' for feed.

ing the electronic fcomponents 34 singlyfonto a shear block supporting member or bracket 11 8, positionedbe low. the. lower end of .the:body 62.. The teeth of. the pinions 116"engage:between the parallel conductors 36" of the. beltedcomponents34 to advance the latterto the.

supporting member 118.

; A pair of cutter carrying reciprocal slide members;120..

of spacedapart reciprocal slide members 148 carrying ponents.v The inner edges of theshear blocks cooperate with the cutters 133 to shear the component conductors 36 to the desiredlengthsq- Positioned within the .-body 62- there is another pair (travel in. spaced apart paths of travel or vertical planes indicated by the dot and dash'lines 152, FIGS.=4 and 5. Opposed .facesiofthebendingtools 150 are provided with vertical slots 149 to receive and :retain the leads 36 against internal moycment the' componentsibeing held to the bending tools .150 frictionally by the tension estab- V lished in the leads'as a consequence of-the bending operation. i

I leads 36 to the de-' sired lengths and are slidably guidedvertlcally within The pair of tool carrying slides 148 are respectively positioned flat against the opposed sides of the cutter slide members 120 and are operatively connected to the recipe rocal driver bar 86 by a clutch which, like the previously described clutch, includes a reciprocal clutch block 154 and a clutch member, or ball 156. As shown in FIG. 12, the clutch block 154 is slidably guided vertically between the inner face of the removable plate 66 and'the opposed front face of the-driver bar 86. The clutch ball '156 is retained in an aperture'in the clutch block 154 and normally, or in raised position, engages in ja socket 160, provided in the opposed face'ofthe driver bar 86, as shown in FIG. 16, so as to releasably connect the slide members 148 to the bar. Secured to the. inner face of the removable front plate 66 there is a stop member or block 162 which the clutch block 154 contacts on downward movement of the latter, and when this 00- I curs, the ball clutch member 156 is forced out of its socket 160'into a clearance socket 161 in plate 66 to dis engage the slide members 148 from the driver bar 86. It will be seen that the stroke of the. bending tools 150 is much longer than the stroke of the cutters 120, the bending tools, following the bending operation, carrying the component down to a point proximate the circuit board,'as shown in FIG. 15. The upper ends .of the slide members 148-are,.pro vided with inwardly directed connectors or tabs 153 that engage in a transverse slot 155,

; provided in the clutchblock 154. It will be seen that the slide members 148 may move broadside toward and away from each other allowing the tabs 153 to move along the The forming block 151 is retractable and is normally positioned'in the space between the legs 136 of the shear block mounting with the upper surfaces thereof coplanar.

. In orderthat the forming 'blockj151 may be retractedv out of the way of the actuator bar 86, the block. is pivoted at 170 to the body rear plate ,65 and has' an upper. arm 171 positioned to be received in. a clearance slot 172 1 provided in platet65. The upper arm 171 normally has the end 173 thereof against the rear face of the driver bar. 86 and on'predetermineddownward movement of the driver bar 86 is adapted toengage in a vertical slot.174 in the driver bar for, clearance. to retractthe forming block -151'to the position shown in FIG. 15. Aispring 176'is adapted to retract the forming block 151 by way of a cammin'g lever 178; As illustrated in FIG. -15, after the forming tools 150 have descended with the actuator bar; 86 andperformed their forming operation, the free end 177 of lever 178 engages the .roundedtupperflcam surface 180 of arm 168 and cams the latter -counterclock ,wise to retract the forming block; The forming block 151 is returned to normal position on the up stroke of the driver bar 86 when a cam surface 179, at the lower end of slot 174 engages and pivots lever 178' clockwise as shown in FIG. 12;. I

Carried by the driver bar 86 on the lower end thereof is a pair of laterally spaced driver members 182 to drive the wedged shaped tiplets 46 into the holes 48 in the board 32. Lower end portions of the driver members slot 155 without-disengaging the slide members from the clutch blockj154.

b r tical planes 152 so as to retain the bent down leads 36 and then insert them axially,'-and in order to obtain this relationship I provide for lateral displacement of the bending tools 150 by the driver members 182 when the latter function to insert the tiplets'46. With particular reference to FIG, 2, it will be seenthat lower end portions 192 of the slide members 148 are recessed to receive normally .the driver members 182 and that the bending tools 150 extend beneath the lower ends of-the driver members 182 in the upper or retracted positions of the tools; In addition to placing the tools 159 and driver members'182 in the same planes'of vertical travel,

the recesses reduce the thickness of the lower end por tions 192 so that they may be displaced laterally bya accurate alignment of the tiplets 46 with the circuit board holes 48. The slide members 148 are made of a resilient metal, such as, a resilient steel whereby the lower end portions 192 will spring back to their normal lead bending positions on the up stroke of. the driver bar 86.

In FIGS. 12 and 13 is shown feed mechanism, actuated by and upon each stroke of the actuatorbar 86 to feed the next belted component 34 onto the shear blocks 138 and forming block 151. This is an indexing mechanism which is actuated from the actuator bar 86 by the lever 178. The lever 178 .is affixed to a rotatable shaft .191

to which is also aflixed one end ofla lever arm 194.

Pivoted to the other end of the arm 194there is a pawl.

, 196'.held in engagement with the teeth of one'of the pinions 116 by a coil spring 198. The extended arm, as

at 200, of-the pawl 196 isfor manual operation of the *pinion116, which is used to start the end of a new roll of belted components in meshwith the-pinions 116. Preferably,: a yieldable holder2tl2 on a lever204 is biased byra spring 29610 engage between the teeth of the pinion 116 in thewell known manner of indexing mechanisms. Although the above description refers, to a single indexing mechanism, it is to be unders'toodthat each ofthe pair of pinions 116 is provided with such Qamechanism and bothmechanisms are operated'by the spring 176'under the control of the driver bar 86. The actuation of the indexing mechanisms by the driver, bar

fis'herein'after described in detail.

In order to provide for adjusting the distance between the cutters 133 and also between the forming tools 158 so as to-adapt. to the shearing and forming of different sizes of electronic components,"I .provide for yieldingly urging the cutters, forming tools and the plates'll'tl out wardly against the side plates 6410f the guide body 62.

I In these positions, the cutterslide. members 120 and 182 are provided with vertical slots 184 in their-opposed side surfaces to receive and retain the bent down conductors 36 as the ends of the driver members 182 abut the tiplets 46 and force the latter into the holes 48 in the circuit board 32; The driver members 182 are in the form of small rectangular plates and are secured, such as g .by means of screws,-to acarrier block 188 which in turn is secured by screws to the lower end of the driver 'bar 86, FIG. 21. With referenceto FIG. ,3, it will be seen that the driver bar 86 is at the lower limit of its driven the tiplets 46 into the circuit board holes 48.

: Inf accordance with one feature .of the invention, the driver members 182 and the bending. tools 150 are arranged to reciprocate-in the same pathsof travel or verstroke with the result that the driver members 182 have 5 v are in sliding contactrespectively with former slide members'148 are adjusted to their outer limits, corresponding to the' largestsize component of which the applicator is capable of handling. To urge" the. parts to the outermost positions, I provide a pair of leaf springs 288 which are received; respectively in recessed areas 210 provided on opposite sides of the driver bar 86. As is shown more clearly'in FIG. 21, the leaf springs 208 are bowed and are secured midway of their endsrespectively to plates 212 which are apertured to slide toward and away from the sides of the driver bar 86. Extending through the driver bar 86 in the recessed areas 210 thereofaresupporting pins 214 which project into apertures in the plates 212 for sliding support onthe The outer faces of the spring carrying plates 212 opposed faces pins.

of the former slide members 148.

Screwthreaded into each of the body side plates 64- is an adjustment member or screw 216, the screws preferably being provided with hand operated knobs218'for- 1 convenience. I

abutment with the movable plates 110 so that'by turning The inner'ends ofthe screws 216 are in the screws the plates, 110 and therefore --the cutter slides 120 and 148 may be moved inwardly against the opposition of the leaf springs 208; Affixed on and to each of 'the screws is a pinion 220 and engaging between'theteeth ofea'ch pinion is a yieldable 'or retractable detent 222 that normally holds the adjustment screws216 in adjusted positions. The spacing between the'teeth of the pinions .220 and the lead of the adjustment screw threads may be calibrated in I accordance 1 with different known sizes of ,electronic components' to be handled; When an adjustment of the positions of the cutters 133and forming tools 150 is made, it is also necessary to change the formeryblock i151 and the driver members 182." By removing the cover plate 68,access maybe had .to the former block 151Hwhich may be readily replacedjwith av former of desired width and also the driver members 182 may be removedas a unit with their carrying block 188.

and be readily replaced with another of desired size. 1, 1 I Operation Assuming the operating parts to be in their normal or home positions, operation of the applicator is initiated,

by theclosing of the switch-108, FIG, 1.- vThis activates the solenoid valve-104 to supply pressurized air to the underside of the piston ofair cylinder 26 whereby to pivot 1ever'92 and thrustthe driver bar 86 downwardly. rAs,

the bar 86 moves downwardly, it carries therewith the cutters 133, through the clutch ba1l124, and theforming,

tools 150;through the clutch ball 156 and also the driver members 182 which are rigidly secured to the lower end of thebar. Since the'cutters 133 project below the form-; ing tools 150, the cutters function first and in coopera-.

tion with the'shear blocks138 sever. the component com ductors 36 atthe prescribed points, outwardly of the tiplets 46 following which the clutch block 122 engages the stop shoulder 130; Atlthis stage of the operation,. ,therclutch'ba-ll124 is opposite the recess 132 whereby the continuing downward movementgof the driver bar. .86-

-, 151 '.drivermembers 182 and adjusted shear blocks-138."

forces the clutch ball into the recess,lthus.disengaging the;

cutters 133 from the driver bar and as a consequence stopping the cutters. Z

, The driver bar 86 continues downwardly, carryingthe bending tools 150 therewith through the clutch ball connection 156,- the tools respectively engaging and bending the leads 36 downwardly over the sides of the forming block 151 and at the same time forcing. end portions of the conductors 36 into the verticalslots 149 in the bending" tools, as shown for example in FIGS. 4and 5. At about this time, the driver bar 86, has descended to the point where the forming block isreleased by the clear:

" ance slot 174 to allow spring 176, acting through lever 178 to pivot arm 168andthus retract the forming block from-the position shown in FIG. 14 to that of FIG. 15. Also, actuation of the'lever 17 8 retracts the pawl 1% of thecomponent indexing mechanism, FIG. 13, into the next notch preparatoryto moving the feed pinions. 116

' onetooth. The bending tools 150 continue downwardly .to a position where the lower ends thereof are proximate theprinted circuit board, whereupon the clutch block 154 engages the stop 16 2, disengaging the bending tools 150 from the driver bar, 8 6. The driver bar e continues downwardly and-thecams 195 on the driver members 182 engage the cams 193 on the forming tools 150 anddisplace the tools laterally by flexing the resilient end portions 192 of the formers apart;

engage and drive the wedge shaped tiplets 46 into the holes 48 in the board 32."

Following displace-. .ment of the forming tools 150 the driver members 182' On the return stroke of the driver bar 86, the upward movement thereoipivots the lever 178to'return' theformofeylinder 26 wire down position with the applicator V operating parts in the positions shown inFIG; 12.; 1f.

will be understood that solenoid .valve' 104 is only open so long as the push button switch 108: is held closed, andj that upon release of the switch, air escapes from bleed valve 106 so as to allow the piston return springs to move the piston of cylinder 26 to its retracted; or down posi-' tion; 7 g a 1 Assume that, for the above described operation the-ap plicator was being used to apply a run of the largersize of component to a printed circuitzboard and thatit is now 'desiredto apply a run ,of smaller components to other boards To adapt theapplicator to apply the-smallercomponents, it is first necessary to remove the tront plate 68 and substitute for the former block 151, a block of: the desired width and substitute for the-removable unit 188;

a unit having the driverfmembers182 in: the: desired spaced apart relationship, and then adjust the shear blocks 138'inwardly toward-each other to the desiredispacing therebetweem Also, by means of the knobs 213;tl1e opposite onesof the corresponding-pairs of cutterslide members 12 and former slide members "148: are-moved closer together by oneor more teeth on the-pinions226 to properly space the cutters 133 and forming'tools apart forcooperation with'the substituted forming block While I'fhave shown; and described the applicator-in considerable detail, it will. be understood that many changes and variations may be made therein .-wit hout de partingfrom therspirit and scope of the invention.

1; *In a machine for bending a pair of leads of an elec trical componentand inserting the leads; aib'ody having a guideway and a rloweri'open end, a retractable anvil be neath the lower end. of saidtbodiy to supportan'electrical component having oppositely directed leadsiprojecting re spectivelybeyond and laterally of; said anvil, 8.1132111 of lat-r erally spaced apart slide -members guided for vertical i movementby said guidewayga pair of formingtools re spectively carried by said slide-members, said forming tools having normally raised positions above said in' v straddling relationshiptherewith and movable downwardly to engage and bend .end portionsof the leadsadoWnwardly in substantially parallel-relationship, stop means limitingv downward movement of'said formingtoolsto predetermined positions, a verticallymovable-operating member between said formingtools, a pair of laterally spaced apart driver members carried ibysaid operating member and slidably guided respectively by the" opposed faces of said slide membersand movable respectively in pathsaligned axially with thebentxdown end portions of the leads, said driver member s having-normally raised positions above the normally raised positions of said -forming tools and movable downwardly'to positionsbee low the lower predetermined positions of said forming tools, said forming tools normally projecting laterally} into thepaths of downward travel of said driver members and mounted for displacement. laterally outwardly of said paths, clutch means connecting said torming'tools to said operating member and releasable by and upon the stop ping of said forming tools at said predetermined positions by said stop means, and cam meanson said formingtools 1 and on said :driver members "cooperablefollowing, the 'stoppingfof said' forming tools at saidpretermined posi- [10113 10 displace said forming .tools bythe: downward movement of said driver members below the predetermined lower limits of travel of said forming tools.

2. A machine as defined by claim 1 wherein the forming tools are connected to the side members by outwardly flexible resilient arms.

3. A machine as defined by claim 1 wherein the forming tools have opposed faces vertically slotted for respectively receiving the leads.

4. A machine as defined by claim 3 wherein thedriver members have opposed faces vertically slotted to respectively receive the leads and with the slots normally aligned with the corresponding vertical slots in the forming tools.

5. A machine as defined by claim 1 wherein the opposed faces of the slide members are recessed to slidably receive said driver members.

6. In a machine for severing, bending and inserting a pair of leads of an electrical component having abutment shoulders on the leads comprising a body having opposite side walls and a lower end, a pair of plates within said body in broadside spaced apart relationship, said plates respectively mounted on said side walls and adjustably movable toward and away from each other, a pair of laterally spaced apart shear blocks beneath the lower end of said body, said shear blocks to support therebetween an electrical component having oppositely extending leads resting on the blocks with the abutment shoulders inwardly of said blocks, a pair of laterally spaced apart cutter members slidably guided respectively against opposed faces of said plates, said cutter members having normally raised positions in'shearin-g relation respectively with said shearing blocks, first stop means limiting downward movement of said cutter members, a retractable anvil normally positioned between said shearing blocks to support said leads inwardly of the lead shoulders, a pair of laterally spaced apart forming tools positioned for vertical movement from raised positions above the raised positions of said cutter members to a lower limit of movement, second stop means to stop said forming tools at the lower limit of movement thereof, said forming tools positioned to straddle said anvil and bend end portions of the leads including the shoulders downwardly in substantially spaced parallel relationship, a vertically movable driver bar between said forming tools, a pair of laterally spaced apart driver members carried by said driver bar inwardly of said forming tools, said driver members normally in raised positions above said forming tools and movable downwardly to engage the leads, the

limit of movement of said driver members being below the lower limit of movement of said forming tools, clutch means connecting said cutter members to said driver bar and disengaged by the stopping of said cutter members by the first stop means, clutch means'connecting said forming tools to said driver bar and disengaged by the stopping of said forming tools by said second stop means, means operable to retract said anvil and actuated by the downward movement of said driver bar prior to engagement of said driver members with the lead shoulders, said forming tools normally projecting respectively into the paths of movement of said driver member, and outwardly displaceable to clear said driver members, and cam means on said driver members and on said forming tools to dis place said forming tools by the movement of said driver members below said forming tools.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,737,211 Perry et a1. Mar. 6, 1956 2,896,213 Alderman et a1. July 28, 1959 2,982,967 Dingelstedt May 9, 1961 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR BENDIONG A PAIR OF LEADS OF AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT AND INSERTING THE LEADS, A BODY HAVING A GUIDEWAY AND A LOWER OPEN END, A RETRACTABLE ANVIL BENEATH THE LOWER END OF SAID BODY TO SUPPORT AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HAVING OPPOSITELY DIRECTED LEADS PROJECTING RESPECTIVELY BEYOND AND LATERALLY OF SAID ANVIL, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED APART SLIDE MEMBERS GUIDED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT BY SAID GUIDEWAY, A PAIR OF FORMING TOOLS RESPECTIVELY CARRIED BY SAID SLIDE MEMBERS, SAID FORMING TOOLS HAVING NORMALLY RAISED POSITIONS ABOVE SAID ANVIL IN STRADDLING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH AND MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY TO ENGAGE AND BEND END PORTIONS OF THE LEADS DOWNWARDLY IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP, STOP MEANS LIMITING DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FORMING TOOLS TO PREDETERMINED POSITIONS, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE OPERATING MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FORMING TOOLS, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED APART DRIVER MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID OPERATING MEMBER AND SLIDABLY GUIDED RESPECTIVELY BY THE OPPOSITE FACES OF SAID SLIDE MEMBERS AND MOVABLE RESPECTIVE IN PATHS ALIGNED AXIALLY WITH THE BENT DOWN END PORTIONS OF THE LEADS, SAID DRIVE MEMBERS HAVING NORMALLY RAISED POSITIONS ABOVE THE NORMALLY RAISED POSITIONS OF SAID FORMING TOOLS AND MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY TO POSITIONS BELOW THE LOWER PREDETERMINED POSITIONS OF SAID FORMING TOOLS, SAID FORMING TOOLS NORMALLY PROJECTING LATERALLY INTO THE PATHS OF DOWNWARD TRAVEL OF SAID DRIVER MEMBERS AND MOUNTED FOR DISPLACEMENT LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID PATHS, CLUTCH MEANS CONNECTING SAID FORMING TOOLS TO SAID OPERATING MEMBER AND RELEASABLE BY AND UPON THE STOPPING OF SAID FORMING TOOLS AT SAID PREDETERMINED POSITIONS BY SAID STOP MEANS, AND CAM MEANS ON SAID FORMING TOOLS AND ON SAID DRIVER MEMBERS COOPERABLE FOLLOWING THE STOPPING OF SAID FORMING TOOLS AT SAID PREDETERMINED POSITIONS TO DISPLACE SAID FORMING TOOLS BY THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID DRIVER MEMBERS BELOW THE PREDETERMINED LOWER LIMITS OF TRAVEL OF SAID FORMING TOOLS. 